Belgium launches Europe-first port security network to combat crime, cyber threats

The initiative builds on the ISPS Code and the Belgian Maritime Security Act

All Belgian seaports and inland ports, in partnership with the National Drug Commission, have launched a groundbreaking initiative to unify port security across the country.

Federal Minister of Justice and North Sea, Annelies Verlinden, officially inaugurated the platform, the Port 2 Port Security Platform, marking the first time in Europe that every port and waterway in a nation collaborates strategically and operationally.

Belgium’s ports, critical hubs of international trade, are prime targets for organized crime, drug smuggling, cyber-attacks, and drone misuse. Until now, security efforts were largely siloed. The new platform shifts the approach to a coordinated, countrywide strategy, bringing together the ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Liège, Brussels, Ostend, North Sea Port, and CSD Limburg, along with waterway managers in Antwerp and Flemish Brabant.

The initiative builds on the ISPS Code and the Belgian Maritime Security Act, creating a robust legal and operational framework. By fostering information sharing, joint training, and the exchange of expertise in inspections, access control, AI camera surveillance, and drone monitoring, Belgian ports aim to strengthen resilience and safeguard critical infrastructure, personnel, and cargo.

“Security starts with sharing information and expertise,” said Verlinden. “With Port 2 Port, we are building a robust network that better protects our ports and strengthens their resilience.”

The platform exemplifies collaborative innovation, combining traditional enforcement with prevention, technology, and collective intelligence. “Security forms the foundation of all port activities,” said the initiators from Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port, and CSD Limburg. “This platform allows us to unite our strengths to stay ahead of criminals and safeguard our people, infrastructure, and economy.”

Ine Van Wymersch, National Drugs Commissioner, emphasized the impact on organized crime: “Sharing knowledge across all Belgian ports strengthens collective resilience and mitigates spill-over effects. Public and private partners together are showing that ‘security through resilience’ is the priority for the entire port community.”

With Port 2 Port, Belgium is setting a new European benchmark: a fully integrated, future-proof port security network that turns cooperation into a frontline defense against evolving threats.